I have perlite, compost, manure. I don't need advice on ferts/nutes. Just the medium.

. . . I want my soil to retain water as well as have organic matter that the organisms can break down.

. . .help me please.

__________________

I don't have answers for you, but have the same question.


I have been using 100% Happy Frog or Miracle Grow potting mix. I am interested in improving my yields.

This is a good question.

I use Happy Frog.
Great soil no need to cut it down.

__________________
Under $100

fox farm soil products are worthless.
ocean forest and happy frog have a tendency to be acidic.
i have had them burn seedlings and clones.
if anything, use light warrior for starting and then make your own mix for transplanting into.

here is how i see it.
fox farm products are overpriced ($20 for a bag of soil..?) because they have trace minerals and macro/micro nutrients in them.
if you have nutrients that you are going to feed them, why pay to have them come in the soil..?

instead of buying fox farm soil, got to home depot and see what they have that says "organic" or "omri" on it.
i use 24 gallon pots so it would cost me about $160 just to pot my gals if i used fox farm products.
at home depot i was able to find the following:
(these are all organic..)
- sphagnum peat moss
- steer compost
- mushroom compost
- potting mix
i also mixed in a bag of canna coco and some hydrofarm chunky perlite that i got at the grow store.

all in all this cost me about $60 and is a waaaaay better medium than an fox farm product.

don't buy shitty overpriced products just because they come in nice bags.
a good bit of the marketing in grow products in packaging.
all fox farm products have badass artwork on them, but do not function as well as many other products that come in much less flashy bags.

i don't hate fox farm, just their soils.
but to answer your question, cut your happy frog with 1/4-1/3 light warrior to avoid burning youe transplants.
or, if you have not purchased the happy frog yet, just get light warrior.
stay away from ocean forest though..!

so would i put 30% perlite?

can i add compost and manure to happy frog?

__________________

i add charcoal and perlite (ala quasi terra preta)...
FF's soils are definitely hot so, while they may provide a good base, sweetening, aeration, and going real easy/slow on the nutes (if any at all) for the first month are all essential imho.

cheers
-g

i love my Ocean forest and happy frog... i used to always get soil from home depot, this is the first time i didnt have hella gnats flying around or any other bugs. Its a really clean dirt.

__________________
Everything I say is a lie. Pics are from the net......
http://www.rollitup.org/grow-journal...rt-flower.html

FFOF and happy frog 50/50 has never done me wrong

__________________
Go on get that weed up in ya, you'll feel better!!

It's supposed to get blended when you've grown ur own in the same dirt more than once it gets shittyer and so then you need to blend it with another soil enhancing product thus, making sure that it will grow crops strong!

okay so i'll cut it with another premium potting soil.

__________________